Thames River Railroad Bridge damaged by short circuit, fire

The Thames River Railroad Bridge is out of service until further notice because of a high voltage electrical short, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Amtrak will continue to run trains as scheduled and the main channel will remain open to boaters with the full 29-foot clearance. But there will be no bridge openings until repairs are completed, the Coast Guard said in an informational bulletin issued Wednesday.

The damage was caused by a Feb. 17 short circuit that sparked a small fire and damaged a power supply cable that provides power to the bridge’s lift span, according to the Coast Guard.

Amtrak has hired a contractor to check for more damage and repair the bridge as soon as scaffolding can be erected. Repairs could take several weeks, depending on the extent of the damage, the Coast Guard said.